Multi-movement sphere



July 25, 1967 R. SCHULLER MULTI-MOVEMENT SPHERE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1964 44 9 INVENTOR.

y 1967 R. SCHULLER 3,332,682

MULT I-NOVEMENT SPHERE Filed May 14 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill? INVENTOR.

P00 Y 5C/-/0 MAM W 14 7 TOP/V6 V5 July 25, 1967 RJSCHULLER MULTI-MOVEMENT SPHERE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 14 1964 INVENTOR.

IQC/OY SCI/UL if? July 25, 1967 R. SCHULLER MULTIMOVEMENT SPHERE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 14 1964 INVENTOR P/OY 56(454? BY 0mm wm kw United States Patent 3,332,682 MULTI-MOVEMENT SFHERE Rudy Schuller, 4%5 Horizon Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44124 Filed lVIay 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,328 13 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates to a game, amusement or display apparatus.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved space game, amusement or display apparatus which challenges the users skill to establish a predetermined condition in the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved game or amusement apparatus in which the object of the game is to attain a stabilized position inside an enclosure of a body, such as a space vehicle in simulated flight.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a game or amusement apparatus having a manual control operated by the player to selectively control the movement of the enclosure in which the body is mounted in such a fashion that the body can attain a stabilized position only if the enclosure is moving correctly.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a game or amusement apparatus having provision for indicating when the body has attained a stabilized position within the enclosure.

In a presently-preferred embodiment of this invention, the apparatus comprises a transparent sphere mounted for universal rotation, a simulated space vehicle inside the sphere, and a drive arrangement for rotating the sphere in a direction controlled manually by the player. A simulated space vehicle is supported inside the sphere in such a manner that the vehicle will move in unison with the transparent sphere except when the vehicle is in a stable horizontal position. When this stable position of the vehicle is attained, as determined by the manuallycontrolled drive imparted to the transparent sphere, audible and visual indicators operate automatically to indicate the players success in achieving this stabilized condition.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently-preferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 22 in FIGURE 1 and showing the operator-controlled mechanism for rotating the transparent sphere in the game apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 1 and showing the transparent sphere engaging one of the pads carried by the support framework;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the attachment of the two halves of the transparent sphere to each other;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view including the electrical circuit for the sphere-rotating drive motor;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary axial section through the transparent sphere and the simulated space capsule therein, showing the positions of the parts when the capsule first assumes a horizontal position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the smaller front end of the space capsule and the adjacent parts of the transparent sphere;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing "ice the moving parts of the space capsule in the positions which they assume when the capsule is inclined downward toward the front;

FIGURE 10is a fragmentary perspective view showing certain of the same parts in the positions which they assume when the axis of the capsule is substantially horizontal;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view showing in elevation certain of the parts in the capsule in the FIGURE 10 position; and

FIGURE 12 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of the circuits for the various indicator devices on the capsule for indicating when it has assumed a stabilized horizontal position.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, in broad outline the preferred embodiment of the present game apparatus shown therein comprises a base 20, an open support framework 21 extending up from the base, and an enclosure in the form of a transparent sphere 22 supported by the framework 21 for rotation in any direction. A body in the form of a simulated space vehicle 23 is inside the sphere, and a control stick 24 extending up from the base 20 and movable selectively by the player controls the rotation of the sphere. The object of the game is to cause the sphere 22 to rotate in such a direction that the space capsule 23 will assume a stabilized horizontal position, at which time various indicator devices on the capsule will indicate that this stabilized position has been attained.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the support framework comprises a bottom ring 25 rigidly secured to a top wall 26 of base 20, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, arcuate arms 27 bolted to the bottom ring 25 and extending upward and laterally outward therefrom, and a large diameter, horizontal, annular band 28 bolted to the upper ends of the arms 27 and extending around the middle of the sphere. Each of the arcuate arms 27 of the framework carries a spaced pair of pads 29 and 30 for engagement with the transparent sphere. Each of the lower pads 29 is located a short distance upward from the lower end of the framework arm 27 which supports it. Each of the upper pads 30 is located at substantially the level of the upper band 28 of the framework.

As shown in FIGURE 3, each upper pad 30 is a flat loop of mohair fabric which is inserted endwise over the upper, free end 31 of a mounting clip 32. This clip has a lower end 33 which is riveted or otherwise attached to the inside of the respective framework arm 27. The upper, free end 31 of the clip is offset radially inward from its lower mounting end 33 and it is biased toward the framework arm 27, so that the radially outward half of pad 30 is snugly clamped between this end of the clip and the inside of the framework arm 27.

Each of the lower pads 29 is similarly mounted on a respective spring clip.

With this arrangement the several pads 29 and 30 support the transparent sphere 22 at spaced locations around its lower half. The mohair fabric of the pads substantially prevents scratching of the sphere and the buildup of an electrical charge on the sphere as it rotates.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the sphere 22 is adapted to be rotated in any direction by a motor-driven, rotary rubber wheel 35, which is mounted for adjustment through a universal movement linkage 36 acting between the control handle 24 and drive wheel 35.

The drive Wheel 35 is attached to the upper end of the shaft 37 of an eletcric motor 38. The motor is bolted to an upstanding rigid end piece 39 of the linkage 36. This linpage includes an elongated rigid bottom lever 40, which is pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of the end piece 39 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the lower end of the control handle 24. A rigid fulcrum piece 41 carries a horizontal cross-pin 42 which provides a pivotal support for lever 40 midway between the latters ends. The fulcrum piece 41 itself is pivoted on a horizontal pin 43 carried by a rigid bracket 44 attached to the base 20. The respective axes of pins 42 and 43 are perpendicular to one another.

The control handle 24 carries a guide plate 45 with a convex upper face for sliding engagement with the underside of the adjacent top wall 46 of base 20. As shown in FIGURE 1, this top Wall of the base has a realtively large oblong opening 47. The control stick 24 extends up through thi opening and it may be moved from side-toside and from front-to-back, or vice versa, within the limits of movement defined by the size of this opening.

The linkage 36 also includes an elongated, rigid, generally horizontal arm 48 spaced above the lever 40 and pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the control handle 24 and the end piece 39 of the linkage. Tension coil springs 49 act between the bracket 44 and arm 43 to bias the latter to the right in FIGURE 2, to a position in which the control stick 24 extends substantially vertical in the middle of the opening 47 in the top wall 46 of the base and the drive motor 37 extends substantially vertical and in substantial alignment with the vertical axis of the transparent sphere 22.

The player may grasp the control handle 24 and move it in any direction, and this movement of the control handle is imparted to the drive wheel 35 through the universal movement likage 36. The position of the drive Wheel, as determined by the control handle, controls the direction in which the transparent sphere 22 will rotate as a result of its tangential engagement by the rotating drive wheel.

A push button switch for controlling the energization of the drive motor 38 is located in the upper end of the control handle 24. This switch comprises a pair of laterally spaced, fixed contacts 50 and 51 (FIGURE 6) fixedly mounted in the handle and a mobile bridging contact 52 carried by a plunger 53 which is reciprocable in the handle. A compression coil spring 54 biases plunger 53 which is reciprocable in the handle. A compression coil 53 upward in FIGURE 2 to position the mobile contact 52 up away from engagement with the fixed contacts t 51. The upper end of plunger 53 projects up through the top of the control handle 24. When the player depresses this plunger, the mobile contact 52 is moved down into engagement with the fixed contacts 50, 51, closing the circuit through these contacts.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the positive terminal of a battry 55 is connected to one side of the drive motor 33. The opposite side of this motor is connected to one of the fixed contacts 50. The other fixed contact 51 is connected to the negative terminal ofbattery 55. Accordingly, when the mobile contact 52 is moved into bridging engagement with the fixed contacts 50, 51, this completes the energization circuit for the drive motor 38 from battery 55.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the transparent sphere 22 is composed of two half-spheres 22a and 22b which are detachably secured to one another to make up the complete sphere. The respective halves at their abutting edges are formed with radially inwardly extending, integral flanges 56 and 57 which extend contiguous to one another. Flange 56 is formed with a plurality of keyholeshaped openings 58 at circumferentially spaced locations.

I The flange 57 on the other half of the sphere carries a plurality of correspondingly located stud 59 (FIGURE 5) having enlarged heads 60 disposed just beyond the flange 56 on the opposite half of the sphere. Each of these heads 60 is smaller in cross-section than the large end of the corresponding slot 58 in flange 56, but larger than the narrow end of that slot. Accordingly, the separate halves of the sphere may be assembled together by first positioning the studs 59 in registration with the large ends of the keyhole slots 53 and then turning the halves relative to one another to move the studs into the narrow ends of these slots, with the enlarged heads snugly overlying the flange 56.

As shown in FIGURE 5, a leaf spring 61 is riveted or otherwise secured at one end to the flange 57. At its opposite end, the leaf spring carries a protrusion 62 which is biased by the spring to project into the large end of one of the keyhole openings 58 in the flange 56 on the other half of the sphere when the two halves of the sphere are assembled together. This locks the two halves of the sphere to each other because they cannot now be turned with respect to one another. The sphere half 22b has an opening 63 (FIGURE 5) adjacent its flange 57 and in alignment with the leaf spring 61. By inserting a thin tool through this opening the user may retract the leaf spring 61 so as to disengage the protrusion 62 from the keyhole slot 58, so that then the two halves of the sphere may be separated by turning them with respect to one another. Flange 56 on the sphere half 22a has an enlarged opening 64 which receives the mounting rivets 65 for leaf spring 61.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the simulated space capsule 23 inside the transparent sphere 22 comprises a hollow housing composed of a main housing shell 66 and an end cap 67 closing the larger end of the housing. In the particular embodiment shown, this simulated capsule has a housing which generally resembles the Gemini capsule. A shaft 68 extends longitudinally and axially through and beyond the capsule, extending slidably and rotatably through the opposite end walls of the capsule housing.

At the left end of shaft 68 in FIGURE 7 a clutch member 69 is rigidly attached to the shaft by a set screw 70'. This clutch member carries a clutch facing 71 which may be of smooth plastic material. The adjacent narrow end of the capsule carries a clutch facing 72 of suitable friction material, such as emery paper. These clutch facings are adapted to be in clutching engagement with each other whenever this end of the capsule is inclined downward, in which case the weight of the capsule will cause it to slide down along shaft 68 until the clutch facings engage one another.

Clutch member 69 at its opposite end has an integral, reduced diameter hub 73. This hub rigidly supports a diametrically disposed flatmounting plate 74, which projects endwise and laterally beyond the hub, as best seen in FIGURE 8. The inwardly projecting flange 57 on the half 22b of the transparent sphere is formed with a rectangular opening which snugly receives the reduced hub 73 on clutch member 69. The other half 22a of the transparent sphere has an elongated opening 76 in its flange 56 which receives the mounting plate 74 carried by the clutch body 69. In the assembled position of these parts, the mounting plate 74 overlies the flange 57 on opposite sides of the opening 75 in this flange, so that clutch member 69 and shaft 68 cannot turn with respect to the transparent sphere. The opening 76 in the other half of the transparent sphere is longer circumferentially than the mounting plate 74, so that the two halves of the sphere may be turned with respect to one another when it is desired to assemble them together or take them apart. I

A substantially similar clutch arrangement is provided at the right end of shaft 68 in FIGURE 7. Corresponding elements of this clutch are given the same reference numerals with a prime subscript added, as the just-described clutch elements at the left end of this shaft. Since the construction and operation of the two clutches are basically similar, the clutch at the right end will not be described in detail.

With the foregoing arrangements, the shaft 68 and the clutch members 69, 69' on its opposite ends are clamped to the transparent sphere 22 so that they move in unison with the sphere. If either end of-the capsule 23- is inclined downwardly a substantial extent, the weight of the capsule will cause it to slide down along shaft 68 to engage the clutch at that end. Under these circumstances the capsule 23 also will move in unison with the sphere 22.

However, if the capsule 23 and shaft 68 are in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 7,

there will be insufiicient weight on either clutch to sustain.

the clutching engagement with the capsule and therefore the capsule will assume a position in which it is out of clutching engagement with either clutch member 69 or 69'. Also, if the player succeeds in driving the sphere for rotation about the shaft 68 with the latter substantially horizontal, then the shaft 68 will rotate (in unison with the sphere) with respect to the space capsule 23. The center of gravity of the capsule is below its longitudinal center line due primarily to the weight of batteries 116 therein, so that it will be in stabilized horizontal position shown in FIGURE 7 with the astronaut figures 77 sitting upright.

Within the capsule housing is located a rigid support base 78 of plastic or other suitable electrical insulation material. This base carries laterally projecting guide portions 79, 80 at its opposite sides, which are slidably received in corresponding guideways in the housing, so that the base may be slidably inserted endwise into the housing when the latters end cap 67 is removed.

A metal rigid bracket 83 is bolted to the base 78. As best seen in FIGURE 9, this bracket has spaced, upstanding, opposite end walls 84 and 85 and spaced, upstanding, opposite side walls 86 and 87. The shaft 68 extends rotatably and slidably through openings in the end walls 84 and 85.

A cam 88 is afiixed to shaft 68 to the right of the end Wall 84 in FIGURE 7. This cam overlies a lever 90 which at its lower end is attached to a pivot pin 91, rotatable in bearings 92, 93 carried by the base 78. Lever 90 extends freely through an elongated slot 94 in the end wall 84 of bracket 83 and terminates at its free end in a laterally turned extension 95, which is disposed below shaft 68.

The side walls 86, 87 of bracket 83 support a crossshaft 96 on which a hub 97 is rotatably mounted. Three arms 98, 99 and 100 project radially from this hub. Arm 98 extends beneath the lateral end extension 95 of lever 90, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 9.

The second arm 99 terminates at its radially outer end in a laterally turned extension 101 (FIGURE 9), which is slidably received in a generally L-shaped slot 102 formed in the depending leg 103 of a pivoted member 104. Member 104 is pivotally supported by a cross pin 105 rotatably mounted in the upstanding side wall 87 of bracket 83 and in a parallel wall 106 connected rigidly to, and offset laterally from wall 87 by a connecting wall 107. A second leg 108 of pivoted member 104 overlies this connecting wall, which serves as a clockwise limit stop for member 104. A flag pole 109' is force fitted at one end to leg 108. At its opposite end this pole carries a flag 110 which normally is disposed inside the capsule housing out of sight of the players, as shown in FIGURE 7. A third leg 111 on pivoted member 104 projects upward and to the left in FIGURE 9. A coil spring 112 is engaged under tension between the lower end of the depending leg 103 on pivoted member 104 and the left end wall 85 of bracket 83.

Normally, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 9, the spring 112 biases the pivoted member 104 clockwise in these figures. The offset lower end of the L-shaped slot 102 in the depending leg 103 of member 104 engages the lateral extension 101 on the free end of arm 99. Accordingly, spring 112, acting through pivoted member 104 and arm 99, positions hub 97 at a rotational position in which the free end of its arm 98 is disposed immediately below the lateral end extension 95 of lever 90.

When shaft 68 turns with respect to the capsule, after the capsule has assumed the stabilized horizontal position, as described, its cam 88 will ride over lever 90, causing the latter to pivot downward (counterclockwise) in FIG- URES 7 and 9. The laterally turned end of the lever bears down on the free end of arm 98 causing hub 97 to pivot clockwise in FIGURES 7 and 9. The clockwise movement of the arm 99 attached to this hub pulls the lower end of the depending leg 103 of pivoted member 104 counterclockwise in these figures against the bias of spring 112. During such movement the lateral end extension 101 on arm 99 first rides up the L-shaped slot 102 until it passes through a plane P (FIGURE 7) common to the respective pivot axes of member 104 and hub 97. Continued movement of arm 99 clockwise causes its lateral end extension 101 to ride back down slot 102. As shown in FIGURE 11, clockwise movement of hub 97 is limited by the engagement of its arm 98 with the bottom of bracket 83. In this position of the parts, the arm 99 is inclined to the right of a vertical position and the lateral extension 101 of this arm seats in the offset end of the L-shaped notch 102 in the depending leg 103 of pivoted member 104. Spring 112 tends to urge member 104 clockwise and maintains the offset portion of slot 102 against the lateral extension 101 of arm 99, arm 99 restrains member 104 against clockwise movement. This is a stable position of the parts and it will be maintained even after the rise on cam 88 has moved out of engagement wtih lever 90 as shaft 68 continues to rotate.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 7, the capsule housing 66 has aligned elongated slots 113a and 113b. The pole 109 rests outside housing 66 between these slots when the flag is retracted. When member 104 is pivoted counterclockwise, as described, flag passes up and out through slot 113b.

When pivoted member 104 is moved counterclockwise, as described, its arm 11 moves down into bridging engagement with a pair of laterally spaced, fixedly positioned switch contacts 114 and 115, indicated schematically in FIGURES 7, 9, 10 and 11. One of these contacts 115 is grounded to the metal bracket 83. Also, arm 111 is grounded to this bracket because all of the parts supporting it from the bracket are metal. A plurality of mercury cell batteries 116 are mounted on base 78 and are connected in series to provide a suitable DC. power source. The switch contact 114 is connected to the negative terminal of this power source.

Referring to FIGURE 12, this voltage source is designated by the reference numeral 117. The positive terminal of this power source is connected to one terminal of an electrically energizable buzzer 118 of conventional design. This buzzer is mounted on the base 78, as shown in FIG- URE 9. The opposite terminal of the buzzer is connected to a flexible and resilient metal leaf spring 119, which constitutes one contact of an intermittently operable switch. As shown in FIGURE 9, this spring is mounted on the insulation base 78. As metal hub on shaft 68 carries three radial fingers 121 terminating in laterally turned ends which are adapted to engage the spring contact 119 in succession intermittently as shaft 68 rotates. Shaft 68, hub 120 and fingers 121 are all grounded to the metal bracket 83.

With this arrangement, when the arm 111 on pivoted member 104 bridges the fixed contacts 114, 115, this provides an energization circuit for the buzzer 118, which circuit is completed each time one of the fingers 121 engages the spring contact 119. Therefore, as long as switch 111, 114, 115 is closed and shaft 68 continues to rotate, the buzzer 118 will be energized intermittently.

An electric lamp 122 is mounted on the outer end of a radial arm 123 which is rigidly attached to shaft 68. As shown schematically in FIGURE 12, one terminal of this lamp is grounded to the metal bracket 83. The other terminal of this lamp is connected to a metal hub 124 mounted on shaft 68 but electrically insulated therefrom. This hub constitutes the rotating contact of a switch. The other contact of this switch is a metal leaf spring 125 mounted on the insulation base 78. Leaf spring contact 125 is in continuous engagement with hub contact 124 as the latter rotates. Contact 125 is connected to the positive power supply terminal 117.

The end cap 67 of the capsule housing is translucent and, as shaft 68 rotates, the lamp 122 revolves about shaft 68 in proximity to the end cap. When switch 111, 114, 115 is closed, as described, this completes the energization circuit for lamp 112 through the rotary switch 124, 125, so that the revolving lamp will produce a revolving spot of light on the end'cap 67 of the capsule housing.

Referring again to FIGURES 7 and 9 through 11, a pair of levers 126 and 127 are carried by pivot pins 128 and 129, which are rotatably supported by the bracket side walls 86 and 87 at locations spaced apart lengthwise of the capsule. At their free outer ends these levers carry respective weights 130 and 131. Lever 126 at its left side in the drawings has a projection 132 which presents a surface 133 inclining upward and to the left. Lever 127 at its right side in the drawings has a projection 134 presenting a surface 135 which inclines upward and the right.

The third radial arm 10s on rotatable hug 97 has a laterally turned end extension 136 which is adapted to pass up between the levers 126 and 127, when hug 97 is turned clockwise in these figures.

As best seen in FIGURE 9, the top edge of the upstanding end wall 85 of bracket 83 defines a limit stop for counterclockwise movement of either lever 126 or 127. As. shown in FIGURE 10, the side wall 86 of bracket 83 carries a lateral projection 137 whose top edge defines a limit stop for clockwise movement of either lever 126 or 127.

Assuming that the smaller end of the capsule has been inclined downward, the weights 130, 131 on the levers 126, 127 will have caused the levers to pivot counterclockwise, to the position shown in FIGURE 9, in which both levers engage the bracket end wall 35. If new the capsule assumes a stable horizontal position, as described, and as a consequence the hub 97 is pivoted clockwise, as described, the lateral end extension 136 of arm 1% will pass up between levers 126 and 127, riding up over the inclined surface 133 on lever 126 to turn the latter clockwise to the position shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, leaving lever 127 engaging the bracket endwall 85.

Conversely, however, if the larger end of the capsule had been inclined downward, then their weights would have caused both levers 126 and 127 to assume their other extreme position, abutting against the projection 137 on the bracket. If now the capsule assumes a stable horizontal position, as described, the lateral end extension 136 of arm 100 will pass up between levers 126 and 127, riding upon over the inclined face 135 on lever 127 to turn the latter counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG- URES 10 and 11, leaving lever 126 engaging the bracket projection 137.

In either event, the levers are inclined upwardly in opposite directions, as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, after the capsulehas assumed a stable horizontal position, and they remain in these positions until the capsule becomes inclined downward in either direction enough to tip the respective weight over-center in that direction. For example, if the capsule new tips downward a sufficient extent toward its smaller end, the center of gravity of lever 126 will move to the left of the axis of its pivot pin 128, causing the lever to move counterclockwise over to the bracket end wall 85.

During such movement of lever 126, its projection 132 will engage the lateral and extension 136 on arm 100 and force the latter downward, turning the hub 97 counterclockwise. Such counterclockwise movement forces arm 99 to become disengaged from the offset end portion of slot 102 in depending leg 103 of pivoted member 194, permitting coil spring 112 to bias the pivoted member 104 back to its normal position of rest, in which the flag is out of sight. Also, such movement of hub 97 causes its arm 98 to move upward, forcing the lever upward to a position abutting against cam 88.

A similar action takes place if the capsule tips downward a suflicient extent toward its large end. In that case, lever 127 will move clockwise and it will turn the hub 97 counterclockwise to restore the parts to their FIGURE 7 positions. Thus, it will be apparent that the weighted levers 126 and 127 constitute a gravity-actuated mechanism for restoring the moving parts in the capsule to their starting, or normal, positions whenever the capsule becomes tilted a predetermined amount away from its stable horizontal position.

Operation In the operation of this apparatus, with the halves of the transparent sphere 22 assembled together and the capsule 23 inside the sphere, the player starts the sphere rotating by pressing the plunger 53 on the control handle 24 to start the motor 38 to rotate the drive wheel 35 and manipulating the control handle downward to bring the drive wheel into engagement with the underside of the sphere. The position of the control handle determines the position of the drive wheel with respect to sphere 22, and thus the direction in which the sphere rotates. The framework 21 and the pads 29 and 30 carried thereby support the sphere for rotation in any direction, i,e., about any axis through the sphere.

As long as the direction of rotation of the sphere is such that the capsule 23 is not in a stable horizontal position, the capsule housing 66, 67 and the parts inside this housing will move in unison with the sphere 22. That is, the weight of the capsule will cause one or the other of the clutches at the ends of the capsule to be engaged, thereby coupling the capsule to shaft 68, which is couppled to the sphere. Under such conditions, the buzzer will not be energized, the flag will be out of sight, and the lamp 122 will be off.

When the player succeeds in manipulating the control handle 24 so that the shaft 68 is substantially horizontal and the transparent sphere 22 is rotating about shaft 68 as an axis, the capsule 23 will be in a substantially horizontal stabilized position, the shaft 68 will be rotating (in unison with sphere 22) with respect to the now nonrotating capsule. Such rotation of the shaft will turn cam 88 to depress lever o, which turns hub 97 clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 7. Such turning of the hub, through its arm 99, pulls pivoted member 104 counterclockwise to raise the flag 110 and also to close switch 111, 114, 115. Also, this turning of the hub 97 causes the weighted levers 126 to be spread apart. With switch 111, 114, closed, the now-revolving lamp 22 is energized continuously through the rotary switch 124, and the buzzer 118 is energized, intermittently through switch 119121.

If the capsule 23 again becomes substantially non-horizontal, one of the weighted levers 126 or 127 will drop over, causing hub 97 to turn counterclockwise to restore the parts to their previous positions, so that the flag 110 will be retracted out of sight and the switch 11, 114, 115 in the energization circuit for buzzer 118 and lamp 122 will be open again.

While a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail and illustrated in the in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment shown and that various modifications, omissions and refinements which depart from the disclosed embodiment may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the simulated space capsule within the sphere may be replaced by another body, such a the figure of a clown or an acrobat or a game board. Also, the sphere and the operator-controlled drive arrangement therefor may be embodied in other amusement or display apparatus if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

means supporting said enclosure for universal movement;

drive means for moving the enclosure;

operator-controlled means for controlling said drive means selectively to thereby determine the direction of movement of the enclosure;

a body mounted in said enclosure;

means normally coupling said body to the enclosure for movement in unison with the enclosure and operative to uncouple said body from the enclosure in response to movement of the enclosure in a predetermined direction; and

indicator means operable in response to the uncoupling of said body from the enclosure to indicate the establishment of said predetermined direction of movement of the enclosure.

2. A game apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

means supporting said enclosure for universal movement;

drive means for moving the enclosure;

operator-controlled means for controlling said drive means selectively to thereby determine the direction of movement of the enclosure;

a body inside said enclosure;

means normally coupling said body to the enclosure for movement in unison with the enclosure and operative to uncouple the body from the enclosure in response to movement of the enclosure in a predetermined direction; and

indicator means operable in response to the uncoupling of the body from the enclosure to indicate the establishment of said predetermined direction of movement of the enclosure.

3. A game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

drive means for rotating the sphere;

operator-controlled means for controlling said drive means selectively to thereby determine the direction of rotation of the sphere;

a body inside said sphere;

mean supporting said body within the sphere and including clutch means operable by the weight of the body to couple the body to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere except when the axis of the body is substantially horizontal; and

indicator means operable When the axis of said body is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about said axis.

4. A game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

a rotary drive wheel beneath the sphere;

a motor coupled to said drive Wheel for rotating the latter;

a universal movement linkage connected at one end to said motor;

a control handle connected to the opposite end of said linkage and movable manually to position the drive Wheel in driving engagement with the sphere to rotate the latter in a direction determined by the position of the control handle;

a switch on the control handle connected in circuit with the motor to control the latters energization;

a body vehicle inside said sphere;

means supporting said body within the sphere and including clutch means operable by the weight of the body to couple the body to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere except when the axis of the body is substantially horizontal; and

indicator means operable when the axis of said body 10 is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about said axis.

5. A game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

operator-controlled drive means for the sphere selectively engageable With the sphere to determine the direction of rotation of the sphere;

a body vehicle inside said sphere;

means normally coupling said body to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere and operative to uncouple the body from the sphere in response to rotation of the sphere in a predetermined direction; and

indicator means operable in response to the uncou pling of the body from the sphere to indicate the attainment of said predetermined direction of rotation of the sphere.

6. A simulated space game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

a rotary drive member beneath the sphere;

a motor having a rotary drive shaft connected to sald drive member;

a universal movement linkage connected at one end to said motor;

a manually movable control member connected to the opposite end of said linkage for selectively positioning said drive member in driving engagement with the sphere to rotate the latter in a direction determined by the position of said control member;

a simulated space vehicle inside said sphere;

means normally coupling said vehicle to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere and operative to uncouple the vehicle from the sphere in response to rotation of the sphere in a predetermined direction; and

indicator means operable in response to the uncoupling of the vehicle from the sphere to indicate the attainment of said predetermined direction of rotation of the sphere.

7. A simulated space game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

operator-controlled drive means for the sphere selectively engageable with the sphere to determine the direction of rotation of the sphere;

a simulated space vehicle inside said sphere;

a shaft extending longitudinally through said vehicle along a diameter of the sphere, said vehicle being slidable along said shaft and rotatably receiving the shaft;

a first clutch member secured to said shaft beyond one end of said vehicle, means securing said first clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

a second clutch member secured to said shaft beyond the opposite end of said vehicle, means securing said second clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison wtih the latter;

said vehicle being slidable down along said shaft when the latter is substantially non-horizontal to engage the respective clutch member and thereby couple the vehicle to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere;

said shaft being rotatable with respect to the vehicle when the shaft is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about the shaft as an axis; and

indicator means operable in response to the rotation of the shaft with respect to the vehicle to indicate the attainment of the stabilized position of the vehicle.

8. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein said indicator means comprises:

battery means on said vehicle;

a lamp on said vehicle; and

switch means connected in circuit with said battery means and said lamp and operable in response to the rotation of said shaft with respect to the vehicle to energize said lamp from said battery means.

9. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein said indicator means comprises:

battery means on said vehicle;

battery-operated sounding means on said vehicle; and

switch means connected in circuit with said battery means and said sounding means and operable in response to the rotation of said shaft with respect to the vehicle to energize said sounding means from said battery means.

10. The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein said indicator means comprises:

a visible indicator mounted on the vehicle for movement with respect thereto;

means normally maintaining said visible indicator in an out-of-sight position; and

means operable in response to the rotation of said shaft with respect to the vehicle to move said indicator to an exposed position.

11. A simulated space game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

a rotary drive member beneath the sphere;

a motor having a rotary drive shaft connected to said drive member;

a universal movement linkage connected at one end to said motor;

a manually movable control member connected to the opposite end of said linkage for selectively positioning said drive member in driving engagement with the sphere to rotate the latter'in a direction determined by the position of said control member;

a simulated space vehicle inside said sphere;

a shaft extending longitudinally through said vehicle along a diameter of the sphere, said vehicle being slidable along said shaft and rotatably receiving the shaft;

a first clutch member secured to said shaft beyond one end of said vehicle, means securing said first clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

a second clutch member secured to said shaft beyond the opposite end of said vehicle, means securing said second clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter; I

said vehicle being slidable down along said shaft when the latter is substantially non-horizontal to engage the respective clutch member and thereby couple the vehicle to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere;

said shaft being rotatable with respect to the vehicle when the shaft is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about the shaft as an axis; and

indicator means operable in response to the rotation of the shaft with respect to the vehicle to indicate the attainment of the stabilized position of the vehicle.

12. A simulated space game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere composed of two halves having interfitting parts for releasably attaching the halves together to form a complete sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

a rotary drive member beneath the sphere;

a motor having a rotary drive shaft connected to said drive member;

a universal movement linkage connected at one end to said motor;

a manually movable control member connected to the opposite end of said linkage for selectively positioning said drive member in driving engagement with the sphere to rotate the latter in a direction determined by the position of said control member;

a simulated space vehicle inside said sphere;

a shaft extending longitudinally through said vehicle along a diameter of the sphere, said vehicle being slid-able along said shaft and rotatably receiving the shaft;

a first clutch member secured to said shaft beyond one end of said vehicle, means securing said first clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

a second clutch member secured to said shaft beyond the opposite end of said vehicle, means securing said second clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

said vehicle being slidable down along said shaft when the latter is substantially non-horizontal to engage the respective clutch member and thereby couple the vehicle to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere;

said shaft being rotatable with respect to the vehicle when the shaft is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about the shaft as an axis;

a cam on said shaft;

means operable by said cam in response to the latters rotation for indicating that the vehicle has attained a stabilized, substantially horizontal position.

13. A simulated space game apparatus comprising:

a transparent sphere;

means supporting said sphere for universal rotation;

a rotary drive member beneath the sphere;

a motor having a rotary drive shaft connected to said drive member;

a universal movement linkage connected at one end to said motor;

a manually movable control member connected to the opposite end of said linkage for selectively positioning said drive member in driving engagement with the sphere to rotate the latter in a direction determined by the position of said control member;

a simulated space vehicle inside said sphere;

a shaft extending longitudinally through said vehicle along a diameter of the sphere, said vehicle being slidable along said shaft and rotatably receiving the shaft;

a first clutch member secured to said shaft beyond one end of said vehicle, means securing said first clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

a second clutch member secured to said shaft beyond the opposite end of said vehicle, means securing said second clutch member to the sphere for movement in unison with the latter;

said vehicle being slidable down along said shaft when the latter is substantially non-horizontal to engage the respective clutch member and thereby couple the vehicle to the sphere for movement in unison with the sphere;

said shaft being rotatable with respect to the vehicle when the shaft is substantially horizontal and the sphere is rotating about the shaft as an axis;

a cam on said shaft;

a lever pivotally mounted in the vehicle and engageable by said cam;

a hub member rotatably mounted in the vehicle and having first, second and third radial arms, said first arm being positioned for engagement with said lever;

a pivoted member in the vehicle having an elongated slot therein, said second arm on the hub member slidably engaging in said slot to couple said hub member and said pivoted member to one another;

spring means biasing said pivoted member to a predetermined first position to thereby bias said hub member to a predetermined position;

a flag attached to said pivoted member and positioned within the vehicle in said predetermined first posito a position operating said switch means and position of the pivoted member; tioning said flag outside the vehicle;

switch means operable by said pivoted member upon and electrically-operable indicator means on the vehicle movement of the latter from said predetermined first energized in response to the rotation of said shaft position to a second position; while said switch means is operated,

a spaced pair of weighted levers pivotally mounted at said lever being movable in response to a downward inlongitudinally spaced axes in the vehicle, abutment means at one side of both axes defining a first limit stop for both levers when the vehicle is inclined downward in one direction, abutment means at the opposite side of both axes defining a second limit stop clination of the vehicle to a position engaging the limit stop at the opposite side of its pivot axis and by such movement engaging said third arm of the hub member to move the hub member in the opposite direction so as to restore said pivoted member to the for both levers when the vehicle is inclined downward in the opposite direction;

said third arm on the lever being movable between said axes of the levers to engage the lever which has the 15 pivot axis farther from the limit stop then engaged by both levers and to pivot said lever into engagement with the other of said limit stops;

said cam, when the shaft turns with respect to the ve- 1,096,318

hicle, pivoting said lever to turn said hub member in 1,126,551 7/ 1956 FY3110?- a direction for movement of said third arm on the 857,291 2/ 1953 ymember between1 said axes of the le\flers :10 spreag RICHARD PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. sai evers apart an or movement 0 sai secon arm on the hub member in a direction to turn said BARRY SHAY Examiner pivoted member against the bias of said spring means L. J. BOVASSO, S. NATTER, Assistant Examiners.

said predetermined first position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,483,932 10/1949 Powell -46 FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1955 France. 

5. A GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING: A TRANSPARENT SPHERE; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SPHERE FOR UNIVERSAL ROTATION; OPERATOR-CONTROLLED DRIVE MEANS FOR THE SPHERE SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SPHERE TO DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE SPHERE; A BODY VEHICLE INSIDE SAID SPHERE; MEANS NORMALLY COUPLING SAID BODY TO THE SPHERE FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON WITH THE SPHERE AND OPERATIVE TO UNCOUPLE THE BODY FROM THE SPHERE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF THE SPHERE IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION; AND 